URBAN: Chosen By A Kingpin (78 page)

After a few hard fought games the two of them stopped for a break. Competition had always been their equalizer, their meeting of the minds since college. Michael was a consummate athlete, playing both football and running track, whereas Blake was more of an elitist, even when it came to sports, his games of choice were Soccer, Tennis and Fencing. How the two of them became such good friends surprised him as much it did everyone else. But what he saw in Blake no one else even dared to look for. He saw a lonely little boy, playing out his mother’s fantasy of what a man should be. Even now, at the age of forty, he was still giving into her demands. He watched him be soft all of his life and yet gain the world. It was never Michael’s intention to be drawn back into his world and yet here he was again.

“So, what’s next my friend? Some golf, shots, or babes, your choice?”

Michael laughed. Surely he didn’t hear what he just heard come out of Blake’s mouth.

“And what would your wife think about those choices?”

“She won’t mind. She doesn’t really seem to care one way or the other. She has her own mind and together we are perfect. Tara is simple and sweet and wants for nothing. She is the complete opposite of mom and I would do anything for her. She is perfect.”

Perfect

“I see.”

Michael thought of Dot. She was also perfect. From the first day he saw her, she managed to capture his heart with hello. He could hardly believe that he was gifted with such a beautiful, intelligent and funny wife.

“How about you? You married, any kids?” Blake asked.

His demeanor changed the moment Blake mentioned his wife and kids.

Michael stood up. “No, neither. Hey, why don’t we grab those drinks. I could use one right about now.”

“Yeah okay, I’ll call the driver!”

***

Tara enjoyed her day in bed, sleeping nearly until noon, without a single interruption. Kati was good like that. She knew how much Tara loved to sleep in, so she didn’t even bother her for breakfast or lunch. Tara jumped up, grabbed her robe and headed for the stairs. She almost completely forgot to tell Kati about dinner. She shot down the stairs, calling out her name.

“Kati!”

“Yes Ma’am.” Kati said, coming out of the kitchen. “Something wrong Miss Tara?”

No matter what, Kati always wore the same warm smile. It was something that Tara had come to look forward to. They could talk about anything and everything, so Kati was so much more than the maid, to Tara, she was family. “No, well I forgot to tell you that Mr. Fitzgerald has invited a guest over for dinner tonight and he wanted you to fix something special. I’m sorry Kati, I was just so tired from yesterday and forgot all about it. If you need me to run to the store or send someone I can.”

“Oh, no problem Miss. I got plenty here. I just picked up some meat and crab that will make something very special for the mister and his guest.”

Tara hugged her. “Thank you! You are the best!”

Kati smiled. “Now go ahead and get ready. It will be dinner before you know it.”

“I will.” Tara blew her a kiss.

***

Although Blake didn’t give her an idea of what the attire for dinner would be, Tara chose a sleeveless, black jumpsuit with a gold belt and royal blue Louboutin’s. She pulled her hair into a ponytail, then wrapped that into a bun. Not too over the top, she thought, sexy and sophisticated. Doors opened and closed below her, so she suspected that Blake and his guest had arrived. Blake pummeled through their bedroom door like he was trying to score a goal.

“Whoa!” He said annoyingly loud. “Babe, I’m home.”

She turned to look at him in disgust! The little bit of hair he had left on his head was disheveled and standing straight up like he had been dancing with electricity. He wobbled over to her, grabbed her by the waist and tried to plant a kiss on her lips. She moved too quickly to let one land.

“Blake, are you drunk?”

“No, no,” He said falling to the ground. “I had the best time of my life today! Babe,” he said “Can I get some help?”

Tara pretended not to hear him and went about getting dressed while Blake snoozed on the floor. She couldn’t believe he would invite someone over, someone she didn’t know then pass out on the floor.

She nudged him. “Blake, get up! Get up and shower okay.”

He murmured something she couldn’t understand, then struggled to the bed.

“No, not the bed…the shower Blake.”

“Yes mama!”

That was it. Now he was calling her his mama. She left him right there and headed downstairs to apologize to his guest.

As she ascended the stairwell she heard Kati laughing and speaking creole, something she hadn’t heard in a while. She wondered who she could have been talking to, then her eyes deceived her, shocked her and made her smile all over when she saw that Kati was speaking and laughing with none other than the mystery man.

“Kati?”

Kati looked almost embarrassed and at first begged for her forgiveness, but it wasn’t’ forgiveness Tara wanted. She wanted to know who he was.

He smiled at her and stretched out his hand like a long lost friend, not a stranger in her home.

“Hi, I’m Michael, Blake’s old friend and you must be Tara, his beautiful wife.”

“Michael,” She said, taking his hand. Funny thing, how he failed to mention that they had met last night, or even that they danced together. This all seemed very strange to her, but she decided not to mention it as well, as this was Blake’s friend and he was after all a guest in their house.

“Nice to meet you Michael.”

“But we met yesterday, remember?”

Oh, he was a sly character and totally took her off guard with that statement. She would have to be careful around him for sure.

“Yes, I do. I just didn’t get a name or make the connection between you and my husband. Anyway, welcome to our home. Blake is getting dressed for dinner, so we can have cocktails if you like on the patio. Kati, can you bring us out an appetizer plate?”

“Yes Miss, right away!”

“Merci Kati!” Michael said.

“Je vous en prie!”

Tara was impressed, as much traveling the world both her and Blake had done she had never heard him utter anything but English.

“Nice,” She said, “You speak Creole.”

“Yes, Creole and French. I had the pleasure of learning the language while on a missionary trip to Haiti after the earthquake.”

“Really, how long did you stay?”

“I spent 6 months there, building houses, helping in the soup kitchens, just about whatever I was asked to do I did. It’s a very endearing place. Have you been?”

“No, I haven’t. I’ve always wanted to go, but after the earthquake it seemed pretty dangerous.”

Kati interrupted. “Oh, that is very good of you Mr. Michael. I have much family who may have benefited from your kindness.

“Thank you Kati, I would surely do it all over again if needed.”

“She likes you.” Tara said. “That is a good sign. Kati doesn’t usually warm up to just anyone.”

He laughed.

“So, maybe, just maybe I’m not just anyone. I mean, you kind of warmed up to me yesterday and you didn’t know me either.”

Strike!

Tara was a bit shocked by that and instead of responding within Kati’s ears, she led Michael out to the patio.

“Michael, I don’t know you, not at all, but I would appreciate you keeping that moment between us. I have to admit I was a bit tipsy and letting my hair down, something I don’t do a lot. I really didn’t mean any harm or foul.”

He stared at her for more than a comfortable moment.

“You are beautiful! I mean, really, really beautiful. I’m surprised.”

“Thank you and surprised. Well, may I ask why you are surprised?”

He laughed again. He had a hearty laugh that reminded her of a lions roar, robust and full.

“Wait, let me get this straight. I’m not surprised that you are beautiful. I am however surprised that my bummy college friend landed such a beauty as his wife. You Tara are the complete package. Any man would be honored to be yours and to have you as his. I’m just, well, don’t tell Blake…jealous.”

She smiled. “Stop, I’m sure you deal with beautiful women all day, every day.”

“You’re right, I do, but none compare to you and I mean that in the most innocent way.”

“Miss, Your platter is ready!” Katie interrupted.

Tara was glad for the break. She didn’t know what was going on, but she couldn’t help the feeling that Michael was flirting with her and she liked it.

“I’m back!” Blake said as he stepped through the patio doors. “So, you met the wife. Isn’t she a beauty?”

“Yes my man, you couldn’t have been more precise. She is beautiful!”

“Well come on, let’s get this party started.” Blake proceeded to pour them all a glass of champagne and toast. “To past times, present times and future times with the two people I love most in the world.”

They all tapped their glasses.

Tara wanted to leave. She felt uncomfortable in their presence. Blake acting liking he was a nearly initiated frat boy and Michael staring holes into her heart. What did he see that Blake couldn’t see? How could he make her feel things without even touching her? She downed her drink and excused herself.

“Will you two excuse me, I’m going to let you catch up and see if Kati needs any help with dinner.”

Once inside she pulled Kati aside.

“Kati, what do you think about Michael?”

“Who Miss?”

“Michael, our guest, Blake’s friend?”

Kati remained quiet for a moment, and then touched Tara on the shoulder.

“Me thinks you should be very careful with this one Miss. He is very smart, very charming, he is like the sugar in your tea, the cream in your coffee. Anything that good is not always good for you.”

“Kati, I’m married remember!”

“Oh, that I do Miss. Mr. Blake is a good man. Mr. Michael…better man, but the worse man for you. Don’t play with fire Miss, or else you get burned. Now, please tell our guest dinner is served.”

Dinner was the best Miss Kati has ever created, Lambi, a Haitian dish of conch in a tomato based sauce, conch fritters, crab cakes and baked Mahi Mahi with a Caesar salad and roasted asparagus. Tara kept her distance from Michael, not that she would do or say anything inappropriate in the presence of Blake. She wouldn’t. What she did however is sit back and listen to their stories, their lives as told by the two of them. She watched their interaction to determine if their friendship was truly real. Despite Kati’s warning she wanted to know more about Michael, where did he come from? What did he do? Where was he going and who did he love? There was so much she wanted to know even if it was inappropriate, he interested her and from what she could tell that went both ways.

“Kati, I’m going out for a run.”

“Alright miss, have a good one.”

Tara turned up her music and headed for the course. The day was sunny and cool but not cold. Unimaginable in Detroit, but it seems they were having an Indian winter and everyone was appreciating it. No snow on the ground, the temperature in the low 50’s, sunshine and no breeze.

She rounded the park, and ran along the course where the stream she loved so much was soothing to her eyes as she slowed a bit to catch a breath and take a drink of water. 2 miles down and four more to go. Tara picked up her stride as she made to the hill that always kicked her ass on many of days. She struggled, but wouldn’t stop, not at least until she reached the top. That was her goal. And like many of her goals, one she had to commit to daily. She gasped and panted with every step, until she reached the top. And when she did, she did the Rocky dance, the dance of champions…unmitigated, careless and free, until she saw an individual running up that same hill.

Michael

“Hey,” He said, out of breath. “Girl, you sure can run!”

“Michael, what are you doing here?”

“Blake,” he paused. “Blake said it would be alright if I used your course. I run a lot and I was getting tired of the downtown scene, so he gave me the code and said I could run here. You don’t mind do you?”

She was surprised to see him again. Seeing him here in front of her, running, and sweating and being completely adorable.

“No, no problem. I’ve got a ways to go, about 4 miles. You want to join me?”

“Yes, that would be great!”

So the two of them started their descent down the hill, rounding curves at a steady pace, neither of them speaking. Tara tried her best to concentrate on the task at hand, making those 4 miles work for her, finishing the course, but with Michael by her side, keeping up with her stride by stride, she pushed herself to do more, to accomplish more…to win.

“First one makes it to the flag, wins!”

“Oh, you are actually challenging me?”

“Yes! I am. You up for it?”

“That I am!”

He took off sprinting and she followed not knowing if she was going to make it or not. He was fast, but she was conditioned. She knew the route like the back of her hand so she decided to use this to her advantage. When Michael got tripped by the winding road, Tara covered it like a pro and ended up ahead of him.

She had no breath to waste, so laughing took more out of her than she could imagine. In a matter of minutes Michael was back on her heels.

“It’s not going to be that easy Tara!”

Tara pushed herself to go faster. She could feel her legs tighten up and had barely any breath, but she wanted to win.

They were less than a quarter of a mile away from the finish when Michael took a dive and landed in the bushes. Tara saw him fall and had second thoughts on continuing. She hollered back.

“You okay?”

She got no answer.

She stopped and turned around again only to find Michael wasn’t there. He moved pass her so fast, tapped her on the shoulder as he went by, laughing.

Shit!

Tara picked up her pace and closed in on him. Her competition spirit was fierce and although he fooled her with that fall she was not going to let him win. She turned up and turned out and passed Michael. She grabbed the flag pole, jumped up and screamed.

“I win!”